In this conversation, Dr. Jamie Marich, a clinical trauma specialist and recovery advocate, dives deep into dissociation as a coping mechanism. She explores its various forms and the misconceptions surrounding dissociative disorders. Jamie shares her personal experiences with dissociative identities and the power of creative therapies, like martial arts and expressive arts, in healing. The discussion also highlights the connection between dissociation and neurodivergence, particularly with Autism and ADHD, aiming to reduce stigma and foster understanding.
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Dissociation as survival strategy
Dissociation means severing or dividing from the present moment as a survival strategy.
Everyone dissociates in some way, like daydreaming or highway hypnosis, as an adaptive response to stress or trauma.
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Adaptive vs Maladaptive Dissociation
Dissociation is often presented as a continuum but actual lived experiences are more complex and nuanced.
Adaptive versus maladaptive lens better characterizes dissociation than a linear spectrum of severity.
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Historical context of dissociation
The term dissociation originated in the 1880s, well before modern wars shaped trauma understanding.
Indigenous and non-Western healing practices have long recognized dissociative states as part of human experience.
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This week Monique interviews Dr. Jamie Marich (she/they) about dissociation. Jamie is a clinical trauma specialist, EMDR Consultant, expressive artist, recovery advocate, and author of many excellent books, including ‘Dissociation Made Simple’, and their latest book ‘You Lied to Me About God’ – a memoir of spiritual abuse and recovery. She is a queer woman in long-term recovery from an addictive disorder and lives with dissociative identities. Jamie unites all of these elements in their mission to redefine therapy.
Monique and Jamie cover:
What is dissociation and what is its purpose.
What are the different forms of dissociation and why does Jamie tend to avoid using a ‘continuum of severity’ framework when thinking about dissociation.
The history of ‘dissociation’ as a diagnostic concept.
What is dissociative amnesia.
Myths about dissociative conditions.
Jamie’s lived experience of dissociative identities and the role that expressive and martial arts has played in their own journey and in their therapeutic work.
How does dissociation fit under the neurodivergence umbrella, and what is the overlap of dissociative conditions with Autism and ADHD?
Ways that people can reduce the stigma of dissociative conditions and support others experiencing dissociative conditions.
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The Neurodivergent Woman 